Pat Madahbee comedy roast raises over $15,000 for the Anishinabek Nation 7th Generation Charity
By Rick Garrick
THUNDER BAY – Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Joe Miskokomon kicked off the Patrick Madahbee Comedy Roast with a round of jokes and comments about the former Grand Council Chief on the evening of June 6.
“I’ve known Pat Madahbee for 40 years or more,” says Miskokomon, who was acclaimed as Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief that same day. “I’ve known him as the Grand Council Chief and him being the Chief of his community. So kind of a switch of the roles and now I’m back as a Regional Deputy Chief. We’ve known each other for a long time.”
Miskokomon says the comedy roast, held at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay, was good Anishinaabe humour.
“If you take yourself too seriously, you’re not going to be in this business for very long,” Miskokomon says. “I obviously wish him all the best in whatever future plans he has and whatever direction that takes. I am certain that we will continue to cross paths as we go on the path of life.”
The comedy roast also featured jokes and comments from other Chiefs and leaders from across Anishinabek Nation.
“We had a lot of laughter and a lot of fun,” says Fort William comedian Moccasin Joe, who emceed the comedy roast. “The politics was all put aside. It was basically a good evening for everyone. This should happen more and more within our nation — it makes us feel good and our youth feel better. Humour is good medicine.”
An Anishinabek Nation 7th Generation Charity bidding auction for a Reggie Leach hockey jersey was also featured during the comedy roast, with Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek Chief Mel Hardy outbidding Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Derek Fox for the jersey. After the auction was over, Leach offered another jersey to Fox for his last bid, which Fox accepted.
“In conversation with my council, we felt we would make a contribution back to the charity,” Hardy says. “We also wanted to contribute to our community…and try to give back and inspire our kids to get back into that game and to support them. It was great to be here tonight and wish Pat Madahbee the best in his future endeavours.”
The bidding auction and other fundraising initiatives raised about $15,000-$20,000 for the Anishinabek Nation 7th Generation Charity.
“I was super happy for Reggie Leach donating those two jerseys,” says Jason Restoule, manager of the Anishinabek Nation 7th Generation Charity. “Reggie has been a great friend of the charity over the years. He’s always there to raise some funds and help out in any way he can.”
Leach, from Berens River First Nation in Manitoba, won the Stanley Cup with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975 and scored 61 goals to lead the league during the 1975-76 season. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1976, as MVP for the playoffs, after setting a playoff record with 19 goals in 16 games.
Gary Dokis, Chief Executive Officer of the Anishinabek Nation, says the comedy roast was a “great gathering”.
“It’s obvious that a lot of people respect the work that Grand Chief Madahbee has done over the years,” Dokis says. “He knows a lot of people and I think it was an opportunity to show our respect for the work he has done for the Anishinabek Nation.”
Dokis adds that everybody has many stories about Madahbee.
“It’s going to be different without Grand Chief Madahbee around, but (we’re) ready to work with Grand Council Chief Hare.”